- One of the best measures of an individual player’s performance is their game score
- The game score (GmSc) stat uniquely measures a player’s productivity for a single game
- These 10 players have had the best game scores in NBA history
NBA fans love advanced stats, and one such stat is a player’s game score or GmSc. This stat method was created by John Hollinger, and it measures a player’s productivity for a single game.
The formula is PTS + 0.4 FG – 0.7 FGA – 0.4* (FTA – FT) + 0.7 ORB + 0.3 DRB + STL + 0.7 AST + 0.7 BLK – 0.4 * PF – TOV. The average game score is 10, while 40 is considered to be an outstanding performance.
In today’s article, we will look at the 10 best game scores in NBA history.
10. Joel Embiid – 54.4 GmSc
Utah Jazz @ Philadelphia 76ers 105-98
Stats: 59 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 7 blocks
Joel Embiid starts our list of the best game scores recorded by a player in NBA history. On November 13, 2022, in a game against the Utah Jazz, Embiid recorded the tenth-best game score with 54.4.
Embiid played like a man on a mission, scoring 59 points on 19-28 shooting. He also added 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and an incredible 7 blocks.
Embiid became the first player with at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks in a game. The Philadelphia 76ers pulled out the 105-98 victory, making Embiid’s historic performance even sweeter.
9. Devin Booker – 54.5 GmSc
Phoenix Suns @ Boston Celtics 130-120
Stats: 70 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Devin Booker is the only player to appear in the top 10 of the greatest game scorers in NBA history to have lost their game. Yes, Booker dropped a career-high 70 points on March 24, 2017, against the Boston Celtics, but his team still lost the game.
Booker shot 21-40 from the field while going 24-26 at the free-throw line. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.
Booker’s game score of 54.5 is quite impressive. Still, it doesn’t mean much since his Suns lost the game.
8. Michael Jordan – 54.7 GmSc
Chicago Bulls @ Detroit Pistons 112-110
Stats: 59 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Michael Jordan landing on our list should come as no surprise. To many fans and analysts alike, Jordan is considered to be the greatest player of all time.
One reason why Jordan is considered the GOAT is because of performances like he had on April 3, 1988, against the Detroit Pistons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNfRTAr1v0Q
Jordan torched the Pistons for 59 points on 21-27 shooting. MJ also added 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. This gave Jordan a game score of 54.7, the eighth-best of all time.
This performance also led to the Pistons creating the famous “Jordan Rules” which Detroit used to punish Jordan while somewhat holding him down. Still, no strategy could truly stop Michael Jordan, and this will not be the last time we see Jordan’s name on this list.
7. Luka Doncic – 56.3 GmSc
New York Knicks @ Dallas Mavericks 126-121
Stats: 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
On December 27, 2022, Luka Doncic made history. He became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game.
Luka achieved this in a game against the New York Knicks, where the Dallas Mavericks won 126-121.
Luka was on a tear, recording 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists on 21-31 shooting. This equated to the seventh-best game score in league history at 56.3.
This makes Luka the international player with the highest game score in league history. The scary thing for the NBA is, that Luka is still just 24 years old. We may see many more great performances out of the Dallas Mavericks star.
6. James Harden – 56.6 GmSc
Orlando Magic @ Houston Rockets 114-107
Stats: 60 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
James Harden has become somewhat of a sidekick in recent years. However, back when Harden was the number one option, he was truly remarkable.
This was no truer than back on January 30, 2018, when Harden’s Houston Rockets took on the Orlando Magic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Nns5OLOuM
Harden became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double, as he led his shorthanded Rockets to a 114-107 victory over the Magic. This was an insane performance by The Beard, but it gets even more historic when you dive deeper into the numbers.
Harden’s stat line of 60 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, gave him a game score of 56.6. This was good enough for sixth-best all-time, and fans would love Harden to return to this dominant style of play.
5. Damian Lillard – 57.6 GmSc
Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers 131-114
Stats: 71 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks
Damian Lillard was the talk of the NBA offseason, as he requested a trade out of Portland, and he ended up in Milwaukee with the Bucks. But last season, as a member of the Trail Blazers, Lillard put on a performance worthy of being the fifth greatest game, measured by game score in NBA history.
The Trail Blazers, who were struggling in the season with just a 28-31 record, took on a Houston Rockets team that was worse, at 13-46. This should have been an easy win for Portland, but after one quarter and 16 points from Lillard, the Trail Blazers held on to just a one-point lead.
The Trail Blazers and Lillard would pull away from the Rockets and win 131-114. Lillard scored a career-high 71 points on 22-38 shooting and 13-22 from downtown.
Lillard added 6 rebounds and 6 assists, giving him a 57.6 game score. Only four players in NBA History have recorded a higher game score than Damian Lillard.
4. Karl Malone – 60.2 GmSc
Milwaukee Bucks @ Utah Jazz 144-96
Stats: 61 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks
Say what you want about Karl Malone, he was an incredible basketball player. Most people talk about his later years in the 1990s when he led the Utah Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals, but in the early 90s, Malone was a scoring machine.
This was no more true than on January 27, 1990. Malone’s Jazz were at home and taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, and The Mailman delivered the fourth-best game score in NBA history.
Malone dropped a career-high 61 points on 21-26 shooting. He also added 18 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
Malone led the Jazz to a 144-96 victory while compiling a 60.2 game score. Not a bad performance from The Mailman.
3. Donovan Mitchell – 60.8 GmSc
Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers 145-134 (OT)
Stats: 71 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 0 steals, 1 block
Donovan Mitchell’s name being on this list may come as a shock to some. However, if you saw his performance on January 2, 2023, against the Chicago Bulls, you’d understand why he belongs here.
Mitchell dropped a career-high 71 points on 22-34 shooting and 7-15 from downtown. This includes 13 points in overtime.
Mitchell became just the seventh player in NBA history to score at least 70 points in a game. He also added 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 0 steals, 1 block to lead the Cavs back from 21 down to beat the Bulls.
Mitchell’s game score of 60.8 was good enough to not just make the list but land in third of the best overall games by a player in NBA history.
2. Kobe Bryant – 63.5 GmSc
Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Lakers 122-104
Stats: 81 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
What Kobe Bryant achieved on January 22, 2006, was unbelievable. Nobody outside of Wilt Chamberlain had ever scored over 80 points in a game.
This changed when Kobe went off against the Toronto Raptors, leading Los Angeles back from an 18-point deficit early in the third quarter to win 122-104.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9NILK4OXpo
Kobe scored 14 in the first quarter, 12 in the second, 27 in the third, and 28 in the fourth. This equals 81 points in the game for Kobe, the second most scored by a player in a single game.
To go along with his 81 points, Kobe added 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Kobe’s game score of 63.5 would be the second-highest ever in a single NBA game.
This truly was the game where Kobe stepped out of superstardom and entered legendary status.
1. Michael Jordan – 64.6 GmSc
Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113 (OT)
Stats: 69 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
It should come as no surprise that the NBA’s GOAT, Michael Jordan, would be atop our list. The game in which Jordan would record the greatest game score would also be the highest scoring and rebounding game of MJ’s career.
The date was March 28, 1990, and the Chicago Bulls were in Cleveland taking on the Cavaliers.
Jordan was ready to put on a show in Cleveland. The main reason for this was that he felt disrespected by the Cleveland media.
Before the game, a Cleveland newspaper printed an article with a headline stating: “Mission Impossible: Ehlo to try and ground Air Jordan.”
The article stated how good a defender Craig Ehlo was and how he had a good chance to slow His Airness down. Jordan was ready to show the world that nobody could slow him down.
Jordan attacked Ehlo and any other Cavs player who stood before him en route to a career-high 69 points. MJ was extremely efficient, shooting 23-37.
On top of his incredible scoring, Jordan recorded a career-high 18 rebounds, to go along with 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. As for the game score, this equates to a 64.6 game score, the best game score of all time.
These top 10 game scores in NBA history let us separate the superstar players from the undeniable legends in league history. As fans, we should cherish these unforgettable moments and appreciate the greatness they represent.
From Michael Jordan’s iconic performances to the incredible achievements of other basketball legends, these game scores will forever be etched in our memories as a testament to the extraordinary talents that have graced the NBA hardwood.
Credit: Basketball Reference
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